Manchester City begin their pre-season with a friendly against Inter, who are in action for the second time this summer. Both clubs are aiming to win silverware in 2026/27, but the result is not all-important at this preparatory stage of the calendar.
Nevertheless, it is interesting to consider the outcome of this meeting between Manchester City and Inter – who will triumph in Hong Kong?
Manchester City vs Inter head to head overview
- Date: Saturday 1st August.
- Kick-off: 12.30pm.
- Venue: Kai Tak Sports Park, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Where to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.
- Referee: TBC.
- VAR: No.
- Last meeting: 18th September 2024; Manchester City 0-0 Inter.
- Last 4 matches: Manchester City – 2 wins; Inter – 1 win; Draws – 1.
- Favourite to win: Manchester City.
Manchester City vs Inter predicted lineups
- Manchester City expected lineup: Donnarumma; Lewis, Reis, Khusanov, Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Monga; Mubamba.
- Inter expected lineup: Martinez; Bisseck, Bovio, Augusto; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Stankovic, Dimarco; Iddrissou, Esposito.
Manchester City vs Inter predictions
For the first time since the summer of 2015, Manchester City’s pre-season is being led by someone other than Pep Guardiola.
After a wildly successful decade in charge of City, Guardiola stepped down as the club’s manager at the end of last season.
Enzo Maresca, his erstwhile assistant at the Etihad Stadium, has been installed as Guardiola’s replacement. Needless to say, he has big shoes to fill.
The reception to Maresca’s appointment has been mixed, but this writer can be counted among the Italian’s fans.
He did a broadly good job in difficult circumstances at Chelsea, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup in his debut campaign, as well as securing a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Things unravelled in his second season, but he is not the first manager (and he will probably not be the last) to run into problems with the current Chelsea owners.
His favoured style of play – an emphasis on patient, probing possession – was not universally popular among Chelsea supporters, but Maresca’s approach will be familiar to City fans.
We will get our first glimpse of Maresca’s City this weekend, when the Premier League side face Inter in a Hong Kong friendly.
Unlike City, Inter will enter the 2026/27 season as defending domestic champions following their impressive title triumph in Serie A last time out.
The Nerazzurri are widely seen as the team to beat again this term, although the likes of Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan will have something to say about that.
Both City and Inter will also be targeting a run deep into the Champions League, although for now their focus is on building fitness ahead of the big kick-off.
Manchester City vs Inter betting tips
Manchester City face Inter in a rematch of the 2023 Champions League final.
No winners this weekend?
The draw is often overpriced in football betting as most punters prefer to pick one team as the winners.
On this occasion, the draw looks particularly attractive. At their peak under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City would probably beat Inter more often than not. But in a one-off match, Inter would be capable of getting a result.
This is no longer Guardiola’s City, and while Maresca will not be ripping up his predecessor’s playbook, he will still have his own ideas that will take a little bit of time to implement.
Inter will benefit from greater continuity, which is why we expect them to avoid defeat this weekend.
⚽ Back a draw at 11/4 with Tote ⚽
Who will start faster?
On a similar note, there are reasons to believe Inter will get out of the blocks quicker than Manchester City.
Neither side will be at full strength so soon after the World Cup, with star strikers Erling Haaland and Lautaro Martinez among the notable absentees.
But as well as knowing what their manager Christian Chivu wants from them, Inter should be sharper given they have already played one friendly this summer (the Italian giants beat Karlsruher 2-1).
Inter can draw first blood in their latest meeting with Manchester City.
⚽ Tip Inter to score first at 11/10 with BetVictor ⚽
Big season awaits for Foden
The 2026/27 will be a big one for Phil Foden.
The attacking midfielder was not part of England’s World Cup squad following two mediocre seasons at club level.
Foden will feel that Enzo Maresca’s arrival gives him an opportunity for a fresh start, and with the likes of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku still away, he will lead Manchester City’s attacking efforts here.
Foden knows where the goal is and he will back himself to score against Inter.
⚽ Go for Phil Foden to score any time at 12/5 with bet365 ⚽
Manchester City vs Inter latest odds
Find the latest Manchester City vs Inter betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
More pre-season friendly predictions
We have plenty more pre-season friendly predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.
Important historical facts about Manchester City and Inter for betting
At least one team has failed to score in each of the four previous games between Manchester City and Inter. This is Inter’s only pre-season friendly against a top-flight team from outside Italy. Enzo Maresca will take charge of Manchester City for the first time on Saturday.
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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